Another "Don't you feel like an old fart?" moment, brought to you by Word E Smyth.
be·troth
verb \bi-ˈtrōth, -ˈtrȯth, bē-\Definition of BETROTH
transitive verb
1
: to promise to marry
2
Monday, March 12, 2012
WWotD - 12 March 2012
I just realized: there are people now being fixed up by online dating services whose parents hooked up via online dating services. Online match making has been around at least since the late 80s (Matchmaker.com is the oldest one I could find, from '86), but became more prevalent in the late 90s. Let's say a couple got together in '95, married by '96, and had a kid in '97. That kid would now be 25...old enough to be using an online dating site.
Another "Don't you feel like an old fart?" moment, brought to you by Word E Smyth.
Another "Don't you feel like an old fart?" moment, brought to you by Word E Smyth.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
WWotD - 11 March 2012
So what's the deal with #Kony2012?
From what I have been able to gather, Joseph Kony (a guy who will never make it onto my Christmas card list) is under the crosshairs of a group called Invisible Children. Invisible Children has decided to ride the viral video wave and released a sure-to-be-indie-award-winning 30 minute film about Kony's atrocities. Their call to action: buy one (or more!) of their bracelets and somehow Obama will be convinced to put this guy's head on a skewer. Note that in the above article links, it indicates Kony has already been hobbled by Ugandan efforts (and aided by US support).
I'm sorry, people, but there is only one bracelet that is guaranteed to motivate in the intended fashion:
That's right. When you want people to believe in nothing, you put on your Nihilism bracelet* and represent nothing. And trust me, the people around you will see that b-e-a-uuutiful bracelet and think "gee, I don't want to do anything" and will go on and do nothing. Sheer perfection.
*Sorry, folks, but the lovely people at Archie McPhee no longer offer the Nihilism bracelet. While you can't get a bracelet with no attitude, you can get some with a bad attitude.
From what I have been able to gather, Joseph Kony (a guy who will never make it onto my Christmas card list) is under the crosshairs of a group called Invisible Children. Invisible Children has decided to ride the viral video wave and released a sure-to-be-indie-award-winning 30 minute film about Kony's atrocities. Their call to action: buy one (or more!) of their bracelets and somehow Obama will be convinced to put this guy's head on a skewer. Note that in the above article links, it indicates Kony has already been hobbled by Ugandan efforts (and aided by US support).
I'm sorry, people, but there is only one bracelet that is guaranteed to motivate in the intended fashion:
 |
| "nothing" is the new "something" |
That's right. When you want people to believe in nothing, you put on your Nihilism bracelet* and represent nothing. And trust me, the people around you will see that b-e-a-uuutiful bracelet and think "gee, I don't want to do anything" and will go on and do nothing. Sheer perfection.
*Sorry, folks, but the lovely people at Archie McPhee no longer offer the Nihilism bracelet. While you can't get a bracelet with no attitude, you can get some with a bad attitude.
soph·ism
noun \ˈsä-ˌfi-zəm\Definition of SOPHISM
1
: an argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid;especially : such an argument used to deceive
Saturday, March 10, 2012
WWotD - 10 March 2012
Geek squee:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/abandoned-star-trek-episode-to-be-filmed-45-years,70401/
http://www.avclub.com/articles/abandoned-star-trek-episode-to-be-filmed-45-years,70401/
ab·ro·gate
verb \ˈa-brə-ˌgāt\ab·ro·gat·edab·ro·gat·ing
Definition of ABROGATE
transitive verb
1
: to abolish by authoritative action : annul
2
: to treat as nonexistent <abrogating their responsibilities>
— ab·ro·ga·tion noun
from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abrogate
from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abrogate
Friday, March 9, 2012
WWotD - 9 March 2012
Again, I cry malarkey.
http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2012/03/does_rock_music_make_people_ra.php
First of all, every article I found about this study ultimately quote a The Daily Mail [UK] article. I could find nothing pointing me to the actual UMinn study. That's terrible journalism, IMO. They even recycle the quote from the article (*shakes head*).
Second, I find the premise and hypothesis of this study to be obtuse at best, racist at worst. Why were white people the only ones asked to distribute money? Their n consists of 138 white Univ. of Minnesota students (gender, age and HH incomes percentages are unspecified, their majors aren't specified, and the years that they collected the data aren't specified either)..that's not even close to capturing enough different types of white people to make any statistically significant determinations. Plus, the fact that "Rural and Agricultural Studies" is considered the "white" group may be viable in Minnesota...but the same may not true in Mississippi (see last page of this link) or New Mexico (see last page of this link). I'm also not clear why they thought to test only "rock", "pop" and "supremacist rock"... but didn't test anything like Tejano, Reggae, Rap or Arabic music (forgive me for not being acquainted with the genres of Arabic music)... to see whether other types of music would skew the bias toward one of the three other racial types.
Third, let me say that anyone who thinks that rock music is "white people music" need only listen to this:
or this:
http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2012/03/does_rock_music_make_people_ra.php
First of all, every article I found about this study ultimately quote a The Daily Mail [UK] article. I could find nothing pointing me to the actual UMinn study. That's terrible journalism, IMO. They even recycle the quote from the article (*shakes head*).
Second, I find the premise and hypothesis of this study to be obtuse at best, racist at worst. Why were white people the only ones asked to distribute money? Their n consists of 138 white Univ. of Minnesota students (gender, age and HH incomes percentages are unspecified, their majors aren't specified, and the years that they collected the data aren't specified either)..that's not even close to capturing enough different types of white people to make any statistically significant determinations. Plus, the fact that "Rural and Agricultural Studies" is considered the "white" group may be viable in Minnesota...but the same may not true in Mississippi (see last page of this link) or New Mexico (see last page of this link). I'm also not clear why they thought to test only "rock", "pop" and "supremacist rock"... but didn't test anything like Tejano, Reggae, Rap or Arabic music (forgive me for not being acquainted with the genres of Arabic music)... to see whether other types of music would skew the bias toward one of the three other racial types.
Third, let me say that anyone who thinks that rock music is "white people music" need only listen to this:
or this:
pre·dis·pose
verb \ˌprē-di-ˈspōz\Definition of PREDISPOSE
transitive verb
1
: to dispose in advance <a good teacher predisposes children to learn>
2
: to make susceptible <malnutrition predisposes one to disease>
from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predisposed
from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predisposed
Thursday, March 8, 2012
WWotD - 8 March 2012
I just realized that:
1- it's Girl Scout cookie season
2- it's Mickey D's Shamrock Shake season
Result: March Madness will be redefined as the hi-jinks resulting from my massive sugar high off shakes and Samoas.
1- it's Girl Scout cookie season
2- it's Mickey D's Shamrock Shake season
Result: March Madness will be redefined as the hi-jinks resulting from my massive sugar high off shakes and Samoas.
glut·tony
noun \ˈglət-nē, ˈglə-tə-nē\plural glut·ton·ies
Definition of GLUTTONY
1
: excess in eating or drinking
2
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
WWotD - 7 March 2012
App developers, here is a great idea for a new app: "Hipster or Cool"? The app would allow me to take a picture and give me feedback as to whether something is hipster or cool. I am desperate for this tool, since I find the difference to be inscrutable. Living in Seattle, I am confronted everywhere by potentially hipster [or cool?] beings and goings-on. I am terrified that one day, I will end up liking something so über-hipster that I am ostracized from society.
I have to acknowledge it's possible that Seattle has already been thoroughly infiltrated by hipsters, in which case:
Developers, note a potential problem for the hipster algorithm: when something is so desperately hipster...and thus so completely uncool...that it is rendered totally cool. This is how I reconcile my adoration of Seventies' and Eighties' Schlock Rock.
I have to acknowledge it's possible that Seattle has already been thoroughly infiltrated by hipsters, in which case:
Developers, note a potential problem for the hipster algorithm: when something is so desperately hipster...and thus so completely uncool...that it is rendered totally cool. This is how I reconcile my adoration of Seventies' and Eighties' Schlock Rock.
so·lip·sism
noun \ˈsō-ləp-ˌsi-zəm, ˈsä-\Definition of SOLIPSISM
: a theory holding that the self can know nothing but its own modifications and that the self is the only existent thing;also : extreme egocentrism
— so·lip·sist noun
— so·lip·sis·tic adjective
— so·lip·sis·ti·cal·ly adverb
from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solipsism
from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solipsism
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
WWotD - 6 March 2012
Recently a story has popped up about cell phone vigilantes who use cell phone jammers to silence loudmouths on their cellphones. The FCC is looking into possible regulations (although some cities and states already have laws on the books about blocking cell phones).
The language that I keep hearing somehow transmits the idea that a cell phone is a right (as per the argument made that BART infringed on people's free speech when stopping phone service during the riots) or even a necessity (since transportation and emergency services use the same cell phone frequencies as personal cell phones).
I call bollocks.
First of all, before cell phone usage became ubiquitous in the late-90s people got along just fine without cell phones. Parents left their children at home with a babysitter and somehow we all survived. Spouses didn't call each other on the way home from work to tell the most painfully dull minutiae to the annoyance of everyone else on the bus, and yet somehow those couples still managed to stay married.
Second point: if there are emergency services that need to be maintained at all times, then put them on another frigging frequency. In fact, I contend with as many times as regular service goes on the fritz, emergency services should already be handled differently. Failing that, see my first reason: we've already lived without these services just fine.
Third point: I don't buy the argument that someone is being "passive-aggressive" or "playing God" when using a jammer...or at least, they are not any more passive-aggressive or Godlike than the person deciding to indulge in noise pollution in the first place.
Of course, there's always the free option of faking an even more obnoxious cell phone conversation to counteract the cell phone terrorist (cellorist?). But that feels like it exacerbates the problem more than it ameliorates it. Unless you keep it entertaining, because long bus/train rides could use better entertainment.
The language that I keep hearing somehow transmits the idea that a cell phone is a right (as per the argument made that BART infringed on people's free speech when stopping phone service during the riots) or even a necessity (since transportation and emergency services use the same cell phone frequencies as personal cell phones).
I call bollocks.
First of all, before cell phone usage became ubiquitous in the late-90s people got along just fine without cell phones. Parents left their children at home with a babysitter and somehow we all survived. Spouses didn't call each other on the way home from work to tell the most painfully dull minutiae to the annoyance of everyone else on the bus, and yet somehow those couples still managed to stay married.
Second point: if there are emergency services that need to be maintained at all times, then put them on another frigging frequency. In fact, I contend with as many times as regular service goes on the fritz, emergency services should already be handled differently. Failing that, see my first reason: we've already lived without these services just fine.
Third point: I don't buy the argument that someone is being "passive-aggressive" or "playing God" when using a jammer...or at least, they are not any more passive-aggressive or Godlike than the person deciding to indulge in noise pollution in the first place.
Of course, there's always the free option of faking an even more obnoxious cell phone conversation to counteract the cell phone terrorist (cellorist?). But that feels like it exacerbates the problem more than it ameliorates it. Unless you keep it entertaining, because long bus/train rides could use better entertainment.
ca·coph·o·ny
noun \ka-ˈkä-fə-nē, -ˈkȯ- also-ˈka-\plural ca·coph·o·nies
Definition of CACOPHONY
: harsh or discordant sound : dissonance 2; specifically :harshness in the sound of words or phrases
from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacophony
from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacophony
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